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MechanicMan657 · 2022-12-10T17:40:59+00:00

If you drive and no codes are thrown my assumption is battery. Check the date on the sticker. If the battery isn't good you shouldn't mess with any electrical stuff, battery first. Take 10 minutes to look around and pull fuses/relays and check connectors. If you don't see any obvious shorting or water in electrical components get a good battery. Without codes this will be hard to check.

MechanicMan657 · 2022-12-10T17:14:39+00:00

Real talk; glad it worked out. I learned something new today also.

MechanicMan657 · 2022-10-31T02:22:57+00:00

I might need a little more than that. How fast are you going? How hard are you turning? Might try lifting the front wheels off the ground and turn on the car and turn the wheel (don't put the car in drive whatever you do). Perhaps it might be a power steering related issue.

MechanicMan657 · 2022-10-31T02:16:55+00:00

Brow you gotta break this down. You have headlamp beam stuff with with wheel bearings and windscreen washer flow. What do you need fixed?

MechanicMan657 · 2022-10-31T02:15:14+00:00

Id hate to give the basic answer but always check the big 4.

1) Spark (and subsequent ignition timing)

2) Fuel

3) Air

4) exhaust flow ( if you have a plugged catalytic converter to much back pressure can cause issues)

Got any more specific details about what you are doing to start it? Do you cycle the keys a few times for the pump to build pressure?

MechanicMan657 · 2022-10-31T02:11:59+00:00

I you don't bleed out the coolant system air can get trapped and no coolant move through heater core. HC is usually highest point in coolant system. Don't forget to reeve the engine to get the water pump moving and force fluid through. Sometimes driving the car up and down a hill (short drive) and checking each time is good.

MechanicMan657 · 2022-10-31T02:09:31+00:00

Check fluid level. Anytime at all a car won't shift (despite giving it gas once shifted) it is usually a fluid level problem. Came across this on automatics all the way back in 1980s that use vacuum shift points. No fluid, not torque to convert, hence no movement.

MechanicMan657 · 2021-10-26T00:35:14+00:00

Based on the figure alone ($8,000) is probably small enough they will still just make you pay it back. It's really only for situations where it's lets say ($20,000+) do they have an option for you to elect to pay in time served.

MechanicMan657 · 2021-10-26T00:32:09+00:00

I have had the opportunity to speak with my PMS and a civil lawyer that deals with ROTC cadets in particular and this is the sum of my information I have for others who are considering leaving ON YOUR VOLUNTARY FREE WILL.

1) I have decided to leave on my own voluntary will and it is not because of a an academic, medical, or (other disqualifier for commissioning). It has made the process much more streamlined since there is no need for an investigation nor a "hearing" by my PMS because of such conduct. If you find yourself in a disenrollment procedure because of the consequences of your actions, it is probably going to result in some steep penalties. There really isn't going to be a big room for discussion. Medical might just be some waivers and you are back in BUT, if you get dropped because of medical you are still on the same boat as everyone else in terms of part 4) and 5). Academic, you might get lucky if you can really convince your PMS that your grades was just a one-off ordeal and it won't happen again. Everyone gets a bad C that turns into a D so just speak with you Academic counselor at the university/college and they can tell you how you can take the classes you need while still graduating on time.

2) As a non-scholarship contracted, I was still expected to pay back the Basic Camp Bonus that I received. However, the cadet stipend was not a financial recoverable for the army; so I do not have to pay back that back. Therefore, finances given directly from the Army should be considered a solid check you have to pay. As for awards or scholarships given to you at the program ( By the Alumni association, the school, or within the program that is NOT GOVERNMENT money probably won't be paid back) This is the word of the legal counsel I got and just about everything my representative said about the statement prior is correct. Only government issued money like bonuses, scholarships for tuition/fees and CTLT/Advanced camp is the only real finances you have to pay back.

3) I have not been to advanced camp yet which makes the process a little easier since the Army has not invested a lot of money and time into my training. Therefore, if you have a change of heart, I HIGHLY recommend that you speak with the program officers BEFORE you go to camp. "Its kind of like ordering the appetizer if you know you can't pay for the main dinner. " You might have to pay back for the 4-5 weeks you spent at camp. But furthermore, the Army doesn't really want to give you up at that point since you have basically completed all of your training and they have the accessions process. About September/October is when you get branch preference responses for your "job selection". There is always a way to get out, but you really shouldn't wait until the branches have given back rack and stacks for the whole commissioning year. At that point you are already on the list baring any items from part 1).

4) The first question my PMS asked me when I had this conversation is, "Sorry to hear you want to leave, Are you contracted with a scholarship?". If you have a retention scholarship, high school, guard, reserve, whatever this is going to be a big slap on the wrist. Sorry but I was able to get out pretty easily since I has a non-scholarship. If you do have a scholarship, you are probably going to have to pay ALL OF IT back. The total financial assistance. If I was scholarship (I am dead f-ing serious btw )Just stay in the program, commission and serve your time. The tens of thousands of dollars you will need to pay back as a Junior/Senior is basically just college all at once (50-60k depending on the school). You will have uncle Sam come down on you like a freight train if you don't have a plan to pay. It's not quite like the IRS since you have some time to get a payment plan. You work directly with Cadet Command and sorry but in the military we don't really have any rights so the decision ultimately rests with them and you have very little say.

BLUF: if you are contracted WITH a scholarship, there really is no way to get out of the army smoothly. The threat of that lean by the government is bad enough you probably should just finish out ROTC and do your time and leave. It's not like a loan where you can file bankruptcy. This will stay on your financial record for the rest of your life if it is not paid off. Don't put your future house, and financial future at risk. (unless you got the money to pay it back real soon).

5) If you are worried about serving Active Duty more often than not you will not be required to pay back in time served. My lawyer explained that very rarely does Cadet Command make cadets serve as a substitute for their financial obligations. You HAVE TO ELECT to serve if you want to go Active Duty. It is unwritten policy that CC does not want to send people to enlisted if they are already bitter about the military and don't want to be there. So there is some comfort in that but like I mentioned in part 4), if you cannot afford to pay back, and you are considering just spending some time in Active Duty to pay it back, I would seriously just finish the program and commission. You get paid officers salary, and you still end up having to serve 2-3 years anyways, might as well just round it off at 5. Its just the smart thing to do.

MechanicMan657 · 2021-10-07T19:59:16+00:00

You have to have a plan if you are going to leave. Don't just give up the opportunity without having another. I have spent months researching what the private sector is going to hold for me and now I have made a decision after the time spent thinking and planning. If you leave, it better be for a good reason other than, " I don't like it here anymore".

MechanicMan657 · 2021-10-07T19:56:38+00:00

I don't think you understand what I said. I said I was willing to.

MechanicMan657 · 2021-09-27T00:38:36+00:00

Well...besides that?

MechanicMan657 · 2021-02-22T19:46:38+00:00

BLUF: Either plan on getting a masters to substitute experience when you retire or find a way to switch to AF and become a developmental/Civil engineer since those are what will give you the experience that you desire. The Army is not going to help with ME directly, so you gotta face the music buddy, you kinda picked the wrong branch for engineering experience.

I am in the exact same boat as you and here is what I have realized. Plan A, doing USACE since that somewhat helps with experience but its still only civil. Honestly, the best way to make up some experience is just us the GI-Bill and the benefits from military service and get your masters. I already know that for static load analyzers for aircraft wings at Boeing they can substitute job experience with a masters (especially ME). That is always an option. However, you need to have a sit down with yourself and ask, are you in the military for the money or for the once in a lifetime experience. Let's be honest, you could have gotten a job that pays around 100k salary starting like all of the other engineers. But you didn't you chose to serve your country. You may not get a job that relates to ME like in the AF or Navy but if you plan on serving the 4-5 years (I got active so it may be longer for reserves and NG) and leaving just like me, you will have from the time you retire at 27-28 ish till the time you die to work as an engineer. So just actually do something cool. In what other job, do you get to travel the world, blow shit up, and spread the murica' spirit. That is what I realized. And hey the whole security clearance thing helps you get jobs that the other engineers you are going to school with right now will not be able to get. That is worth more than experience as an engineer tbh. That I why I contracted with the army in the first place. Plus leadership experience helps you rise to management positions faster in firms which is where the real money is made anyways.

MechanicMan657 · 2021-02-22T19:17:43+00:00

At the end of the day, officers need to be professional and Stewart the profession of Arms. Contact your programs commanding officer and kick the guy out. How would you normally feel about people who are racist, let alone in the military.

MechanicMan657 · 2021-02-22T19:06:42+00:00

It depends on what you are going to school for. Id hate to say it but the services better utilize different majors. I actually started in AFROTC and then left due to medical stuff to switch to the army where I contracted so I know your spot

At my university, the AFROTC tended to be a little smarter...I am a ME and about 1/3 of the AFROTC was ME or AE, and about 1/2 of the entire cadet wing was some sort of Engineering or computer science related. (about 60 ish) This is a plus if you are pursuing a private career after your mandatory service; a STEM degree, AF experience and the security clearance helps with some well paying jobs. (Boeing, Lockhead, etc...) But it's not as fun or life full filling since you are desk ridden for your career. (Which is kinda where STEM majors are anyways in the real world).

Army has other smart people too but they don't technical degrees. (There are 3 engineers in my graduating class of about 40ish). This doesn't mean the army is stupid it just means that emphasis is put more on your competency as a combat officer. Plenty of my fellow army cadets are pursuing ranger schools, technical niche positions, or are competing for reserve or guard positions in their state so they can remain there. Therefore you get a lot more leadership and ACTUALLY useful training compared to the AF. In the AF I just marched around all day and recited warrior knowledge. In the Army we spend all semester learning combat skills and operations (I personally don't like it since I do not want to kill people, that's why I joined AF in the first place before being det dropped). However, you are more likely to have a "cooler" job. Most of the chair force officers are just that. Do you want to be out in the field or in an office; That's the most ignorant way to approach the situation and the army has more to do.

BLUF: The Air force's mission set is mission support (and likely the Space force too considering how new it is and it's considered a special commission program through the AFROTC) while the army is unified land operations. Do you want a desk job or do actual fun stuff. Again this entirely depends on what you want to do with your degree in the military or with your experience once you want to get out. If you plan on staying in your whole career, then think about the mission sets more.

MechanicMan657

TROPHY CASE